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Binge-watching, also known as marathon watching, refers to the sustained viewing of television series, movies or other media content in a single sitting over several hours. This behavior has been greatly popularized and encouraged by the availability of online streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu, which release entire series seasons at once.
Although the concept of intensive media consumption is not new, the digital revolution, particularly the introduction of streaming video on demand, has made binge-watching a central part of modern media culture. The ability to access new episodes without being interrupted by advertising or weekly waiting times has led to a new way of consuming media.
The psychology of binge-watching is complex and can range from the simple pleasure of entertainment to deeper psychological needs such as escapism and the desire for emotional involvement. Series with cliffhanger-rich endings particularly encourage the need to keep watching, as they create continuous tension and curiosity.
Emotional connection: Intense immersion in stories and character development fosters a stronger emotional connection.
Controlled viewing: Viewers can decide for themselves when and how much of a series or movie they want to watch.
Community experience: Binge-watching can be a social event when experienced together with friends or family.
Health risks: Prolonged inactivity and screen time can lead to health problems such as sleep disorders, increased stress levels and physical inactivity.
Social isolation: Extensive binge-watching can lead to social isolation if it comes at the expense of personal interactions.
Reduced enjoyment: Paradoxically, "devouring" content can reduce the ability to enjoy and reflect on it in depth.
Binge-watching has not only changed viewing behavior, but also the way media is produced and marketed. Series makers now produce content with the knowledge that it may be watched in one go, resulting in more complex plot structures and character-driven stories.
As with everything, it comes down to moderation. Moderate forms of binge-watching can be harmless, but excessive behavior can have negative effects on health and social life.